Pixel P&L: Esports Becomes a Medal Event at Asian Youth Games

The Olympic Council of Asia has decided to add esports as a medal discipline in the 3rd Asian Youth Games, slated for Oct. 22-31, 2025, in Bahrain. This is the first time esports will feature in the Asian Youth Games. Competitors aged 14-17 from 45 nations, spanning 20 sports, will converge for the milestone event.

India has delivered strong global esports performances in recent years, including a fifth-place finish in League of Legends at the 2022 Asian Games and medal-winning efforts in Tekken 8 and eFootball. With esports gaining traction at major sporting events, including the upcoming Olympic Esports Games, esports proliferation in India is expected to expand.

Lokesh Suji, Director of the Esports Federation of India and Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation, expressed optimism over the move, suggesting it could boost grassroots talent identification and accelerate local development.

Swedish tournament operator Esports Pulze AB (Epulze) filed for bankruptcy, citing substantial losses tied to The Lima Major 2023 and Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) leagues in Southeast Asia. The firm, which co-hosted two majors including The Lima Major with 4D Esports, faces allegations of unpaid prize money and salaries from professional teams and broadcast talent.

Earlier in September, Chief Executive Markus Lövgren said Epulze invested “several hundred thousand dollars” beyond its initial budget for The Lima Major, expecting repayment after the event. “Due to miscalculations from our local partner,” he said, “the pre-agreed budget was increased several times, and Epulze never received any return on this project.” Attempts to monetize DPC leagues fell short, further straining resources. “Despite our best efforts, we just didn’t generate enough revenue,” he added.

Players, teams, and on-air talent claim Epulze owes tens of thousands of euros, leaving the fate of the company’s creditors in doubt.

Minecraft Creator Notch Announces “Minecraft 2”

Markus “Notch” Persson, the creator of Minecraft, has hinted at developing a spiritual successor to the game, citing renewed interest in game development and fan demand. Persson, who sold Minecraft to Microsoft in 2014 for $2.5 billion, was later removed from the franchise's legacy by Microsoft in 2019 following controversial remarks he made on social media about gender and political issues, which sparked widespread backlash.

In a recent post, Persson acknowledged concerns about spiritual successors often being lackluster but expressed openness to meeting fan expectations. “Why not do the thing that people do want and are willing to give me, somehow, even more cash for?” he wrote.

Overwatch Esports Reenters China

The Overwatch Champions Series (OWCS), organized by ESL FACEIT Group, will introduce a dedicated Chinese region in 2025, with its first live event scheduled in Hangzhou. The move coincides with Overwatch 2’s server relaunch in China on Feb. 19, following Blizzard's renewed partnership with NetEase.

KRAFTON India Partners With realme

KRAFTON India has named realme as the official smartphone partner for the Battlegrounds Mobile India Series (BGIS) 2025 and Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series (BMPS) 2025.